Marc Harris, PhD
@marcharrisphd.bsky.social
Head of Insight and Impact | Large scale change maker | Mixed-methods advocate | Author
Interested in behavioural science, system change, health psychology, gamification and mixed methods research
Interested in behavioural science, system change, health psychology, gamification and mixed methods research
Recently, I wrote 4 articles which called for us to think differently about evaluation.
These articles were always intended to be digested together, and here I have stitched these together into one coherent story.
It's time to move from ‘proving’ to ‘improving’.
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
These articles were always intended to be digested together, and here I have stitched these together into one coherent story.
It's time to move from ‘proving’ to ‘improving’.
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
[Long Read] A Paradigm Shift in Measurement, Evaluation and Impact
By moving from ‘proving’ to ‘improving’, we can create a more nuanced understanding of change.
medium.com
September 12, 2024 at 8:57 AM
Recently, I wrote 4 articles which called for us to think differently about evaluation.
These articles were always intended to be digested together, and here I have stitched these together into one coherent story.
It's time to move from ‘proving’ to ‘improving’.
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
These articles were always intended to be digested together, and here I have stitched these together into one coherent story.
It's time to move from ‘proving’ to ‘improving’.
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
"We need a bolder and broader definition of health—something to do with resilience, adaptability, coping, interdependence, and relationships. Probably we should stop thinking of health being about individuals and recognise that it’s something broader."
www.bmj.com/content/382/...
www.bmj.com/content/382/...
Time to ban the word “prevention”
Few phrases are better known than “prevention is better than cure,” and its message seems irrefutable. Prevention is the favoured answer to the accumulating woes of the NHS: if people don’t get sick t...
www.bmj.com
May 24, 2024 at 2:14 PM
"We need a bolder and broader definition of health—something to do with resilience, adaptability, coping, interdependence, and relationships. Probably we should stop thinking of health being about individuals and recognise that it’s something broader."
www.bmj.com/content/382/...
www.bmj.com/content/382/...
Systems thinking and design thinking go hand in hand🤝
This article draws out the differences between systems thinking and design thinking and how they fit together.
www.ideou.com/blogs/inspir...
This article draws out the differences between systems thinking and design thinking and how they fit together.
www.ideou.com/blogs/inspir...
April 30, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Systems thinking and design thinking go hand in hand🤝
This article draws out the differences between systems thinking and design thinking and how they fit together.
www.ideou.com/blogs/inspir...
This article draws out the differences between systems thinking and design thinking and how they fit together.
www.ideou.com/blogs/inspir...
Policies to help people walk and cycle create public health benefits as much as 100 times greater than their costs.
This research strongly suggests Low Traffic Neighbourhoods generate a very high return on investment.
This research strongly suggests Low Traffic Neighbourhoods generate a very high return on investment.
March 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Policies to help people walk and cycle create public health benefits as much as 100 times greater than their costs.
This research strongly suggests Low Traffic Neighbourhoods generate a very high return on investment.
This research strongly suggests Low Traffic Neighbourhoods generate a very high return on investment.
On Sunday I ran the Barcelona Marathon - my third in 11 months
The Sagrada Família is a surreal backdrop for a run although running with the Spanish sun bearing down on you is a different kind of challenge.
In true running spirit - that was torture, I can’t wait to do it again!
The Sagrada Família is a surreal backdrop for a run although running with the Spanish sun bearing down on you is a different kind of challenge.
In true running spirit - that was torture, I can’t wait to do it again!
March 12, 2024 at 9:01 AM
On Sunday I ran the Barcelona Marathon - my third in 11 months
The Sagrada Família is a surreal backdrop for a run although running with the Spanish sun bearing down on you is a different kind of challenge.
In true running spirit - that was torture, I can’t wait to do it again!
The Sagrada Família is a surreal backdrop for a run although running with the Spanish sun bearing down on you is a different kind of challenge.
In true running spirit - that was torture, I can’t wait to do it again!
Our daily lives are dominated by consumerism. Every day we encounter around 3000 messages which embed a narrative of humans as consumers. It’s time to rethink the dominant story of society and redefine what it means to be human.
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
It’s time for a new story of society
It’s time to rethink the dominant story of society and redefine what it means to be human.
medium.com
March 6, 2024 at 10:10 AM
Our daily lives are dominated by consumerism. Every day we encounter around 3000 messages which embed a narrative of humans as consumers. It’s time to rethink the dominant story of society and redefine what it means to be human.
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
medium.com/@MarcHarrisP...
24% of physicians say more than half or almost all of their workload is due to illnesses or conditions related to the wider determinants of health
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/census-...
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/census-...
March 3, 2024 at 1:32 PM
24% of physicians say more than half or almost all of their workload is due to illnesses or conditions related to the wider determinants of health
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/census-...
www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/census-...
Individual behaviour change vs structural factors
February 29, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Individual behaviour change vs structural factors
Much like indicators of good health in our bodies, systems have telltale signs of health
Policy Lab UK have created and tested Healthy System Indicators which can help stakeholders assess a system and diagnose where interventions can be made to ensure the system can improve
Policy Lab UK have created and tested Healthy System Indicators which can help stakeholders assess a system and diagnose where interventions can be made to ensure the system can improve
February 29, 2024 at 9:29 AM
Much like indicators of good health in our bodies, systems have telltale signs of health
Policy Lab UK have created and tested Healthy System Indicators which can help stakeholders assess a system and diagnose where interventions can be made to ensure the system can improve
Policy Lab UK have created and tested Healthy System Indicators which can help stakeholders assess a system and diagnose where interventions can be made to ensure the system can improve
Working from home can bring big health benefits
Working from home allows people to eat more healthily, feel less stressed and have lower blood pressure, according to a large-scale review of academic literature.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Working from home allows people to eat more healthily, feel less stressed and have lower blood pressure, according to a large-scale review of academic literature.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Working from home can bring big health benefits, study finds
A review of 1,930 papers into home working found major pluses, but also downsides such as antisocial hours and being overlooked for promotion
www.theguardian.com
February 28, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Working from home can bring big health benefits
Working from home allows people to eat more healthily, feel less stressed and have lower blood pressure, according to a large-scale review of academic literature.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Working from home allows people to eat more healthily, feel less stressed and have lower blood pressure, according to a large-scale review of academic literature.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Exercise twice as effective as anti-depressants
Taking just antidepressants improved a person’s symptoms by 26%, while just walking or jogging improved symptoms by 63%
t.co/1wJX9qONm0
Taking just antidepressants improved a person’s symptoms by 26%, while just walking or jogging improved symptoms by 63%
t.co/1wJX9qONm0
Exercise twice as effective as anti-depressants
Researchers find walking or jogging is best way to improve symptoms
t.co
February 15, 2024 at 8:04 PM
Exercise twice as effective as anti-depressants
Taking just antidepressants improved a person’s symptoms by 26%, while just walking or jogging improved symptoms by 63%
t.co/1wJX9qONm0
Taking just antidepressants improved a person’s symptoms by 26%, while just walking or jogging improved symptoms by 63%
t.co/1wJX9qONm0
Children value outside spaces to play in their local communities
www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/blog/childre...
www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/blog/childre...
Children value outside spaces to play in their local communities | Children's Commissioner for England
Children use space in different ways to adults and have different priorities and different needs, but all too often do not feel their voices are heard in decision making.
www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
February 13, 2024 at 8:44 AM
Children value outside spaces to play in their local communities
www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/blog/childre...
www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/blog/childre...
To find meaning in our work, we should change the way we think about it
In this brilliant article, John Coleman suggests that for most people, purpose in work is built, rather than found
'Purpose isn’t magic — it’s something we must consciously pursue and create'
In this brilliant article, John Coleman suggests that for most people, purpose in work is built, rather than found
'Purpose isn’t magic — it’s something we must consciously pursue and create'
January 29, 2024 at 11:11 AM
To find meaning in our work, we should change the way we think about it
In this brilliant article, John Coleman suggests that for most people, purpose in work is built, rather than found
'Purpose isn’t magic — it’s something we must consciously pursue and create'
In this brilliant article, John Coleman suggests that for most people, purpose in work is built, rather than found
'Purpose isn’t magic — it’s something we must consciously pursue and create'
Sickness epidemic creating new wave of economically inactive in ‘bad health blackspots’
One in every four people who are economically inactive live in just 50 local authorities
This interactive map shows where we need to focus our attention:
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
One in every four people who are economically inactive live in just 50 local authorities
This interactive map shows where we need to focus our attention:
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
Healthy Places
A Flourish data visualization by Jamie O'H
public.flourish.studio
January 26, 2024 at 8:36 AM
Sickness epidemic creating new wave of economically inactive in ‘bad health blackspots’
One in every four people who are economically inactive live in just 50 local authorities
This interactive map shows where we need to focus our attention:
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
One in every four people who are economically inactive live in just 50 local authorities
This interactive map shows where we need to focus our attention:
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
This article in Harvard Business Review argues that we should simplify strategy planning
Strategy can be as simple as answering three questions with deep honesty:
1️⃣Where are we now?
2️⃣ Where do we want to go?
3️⃣ What is a credible path to get there?
Strategy can be as simple as answering three questions with deep honesty:
1️⃣Where are we now?
2️⃣ Where do we want to go?
3️⃣ What is a credible path to get there?
January 25, 2024 at 9:47 AM
This article in Harvard Business Review argues that we should simplify strategy planning
Strategy can be as simple as answering three questions with deep honesty:
1️⃣Where are we now?
2️⃣ Where do we want to go?
3️⃣ What is a credible path to get there?
Strategy can be as simple as answering three questions with deep honesty:
1️⃣Where are we now?
2️⃣ Where do we want to go?
3️⃣ What is a credible path to get there?
This is an excellent TEDx from Cormac Russell
Certain styles or forms of helping can do more harm than good
"Imagine the world if everybody who was defined as the problem, secured the power to redefine the problem" 👏
youtu.be/a5xR4QB1ADw?...
Certain styles or forms of helping can do more harm than good
"Imagine the world if everybody who was defined as the problem, secured the power to redefine the problem" 👏
youtu.be/a5xR4QB1ADw?...
Sustainable community development: from what's wrong to what's strong | Cormac Russell | TEDxExeter
How can we help people to live a good life? Instead of trying to right what's wrong within a community Cormac argues we need to start with what's strong. We ...
youtu.be
January 22, 2024 at 8:51 AM
This is an excellent TEDx from Cormac Russell
Certain styles or forms of helping can do more harm than good
"Imagine the world if everybody who was defined as the problem, secured the power to redefine the problem" 👏
youtu.be/a5xR4QB1ADw?...
Certain styles or forms of helping can do more harm than good
"Imagine the world if everybody who was defined as the problem, secured the power to redefine the problem" 👏
youtu.be/a5xR4QB1ADw?...
An oldie but a goldie from Russell Ackoff.
Russell Ackoff stated that humanity is in the early stage of a transition from the Machine Age to the Systems Age.
Where do we think we are in that transition 3 decades on from this lecture?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGN5...
Russell Ackoff stated that humanity is in the early stage of a transition from the Machine Age to the Systems Age.
Where do we think we are in that transition 3 decades on from this lecture?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGN5...
Russell L Ackoff From Mechanistic to Systemic thinking
Russell Ackoff's talk presented at the Systems Thinking in Action conference - November 1993.In this fascinating lecture, Ackoff states that we're in the ear...
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2024 at 8:41 AM
An oldie but a goldie from Russell Ackoff.
Russell Ackoff stated that humanity is in the early stage of a transition from the Machine Age to the Systems Age.
Where do we think we are in that transition 3 decades on from this lecture?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGN5...
Russell Ackoff stated that humanity is in the early stage of a transition from the Machine Age to the Systems Age.
Where do we think we are in that transition 3 decades on from this lecture?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGN5...
Reposted by Marc Harris, PhD
Read our explainer on the extent to which local government funding follows need.
Analysis shows that Local government funding has become less targeted towards deprivation over the past 10 years.
⬇️⬇️⬇️
www.health.org.uk/news-and-com...
Analysis shows that Local government funding has become less targeted towards deprivation over the past 10 years.
⬇️⬇️⬇️
www.health.org.uk/news-and-com...
Funding for local public services
Public services can make a big difference in supporting the building blocks of health. This analysis compares funding for public services against relative spending need for local areas.
www.health.org.uk
January 15, 2024 at 8:50 PM
Read our explainer on the extent to which local government funding follows need.
Analysis shows that Local government funding has become less targeted towards deprivation over the past 10 years.
⬇️⬇️⬇️
www.health.org.uk/news-and-com...
Analysis shows that Local government funding has become less targeted towards deprivation over the past 10 years.
⬇️⬇️⬇️
www.health.org.uk/news-and-com...
🚨 Excellent evidence review alert 🚨
There is a need for researchers and policy- and decision-makers to move beyond single disciplinary paradigms to see the problems of, and solutions to, health inequalities in their entirety.
www.who.int/publications...
There is a need for researchers and policy- and decision-makers to move beyond single disciplinary paradigms to see the problems of, and solutions to, health inequalities in their entirety.
www.who.int/publications...
January 15, 2024 at 9:16 AM
🚨 Excellent evidence review alert 🚨
There is a need for researchers and policy- and decision-makers to move beyond single disciplinary paradigms to see the problems of, and solutions to, health inequalities in their entirety.
www.who.int/publications...
There is a need for researchers and policy- and decision-makers to move beyond single disciplinary paradigms to see the problems of, and solutions to, health inequalities in their entirety.
www.who.int/publications...
How much physical activity is needed to reduce the detrimental health consequences of sedentary time?
If people are sedentary for most of the day, even small amounts of physical activity will lower the risk of death substantially
If people are sedentary for most of the day, even small amounts of physical activity will lower the risk of death substantially
January 11, 2024 at 9:06 AM
How much physical activity is needed to reduce the detrimental health consequences of sedentary time?
If people are sedentary for most of the day, even small amounts of physical activity will lower the risk of death substantially
If people are sedentary for most of the day, even small amounts of physical activity will lower the risk of death substantially
This is an excellent article which makes the point that there is a new zeitgeist around complexity and systems change.
Value is created, and breakthroughs are made through the strength, number and quality of relationships in systems.
medium.com/@bill.bannea...
Value is created, and breakthroughs are made through the strength, number and quality of relationships in systems.
medium.com/@bill.bannea...
January 8, 2024 at 8:56 AM
This is an excellent article which makes the point that there is a new zeitgeist around complexity and systems change.
Value is created, and breakthroughs are made through the strength, number and quality of relationships in systems.
medium.com/@bill.bannea...
Value is created, and breakthroughs are made through the strength, number and quality of relationships in systems.
medium.com/@bill.bannea...
I hope all this training in wet, windy and icy conditions puts me in good stead for a marathon in… Barcelona
January 6, 2024 at 12:14 PM
I hope all this training in wet, windy and icy conditions puts me in good stead for a marathon in… Barcelona
How can communities prevent illness and create their own good health?
This research by New Local identified a wide range of health-related activity being supported by Big Local partnerships.
www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
This research by New Local identified a wide range of health-related activity being supported by Big Local partnerships.
www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
Well-Placed: The impact of Big Local on the health of communities - New Local
How can communities prevent illness and create their own good health? Could investment at the grassroots help ease the burden on the NHS?
www.newlocal.org.uk
December 13, 2023 at 9:21 AM
How can communities prevent illness and create their own good health?
This research by New Local identified a wide range of health-related activity being supported by Big Local partnerships.
www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...
This research by New Local identified a wide range of health-related activity being supported by Big Local partnerships.
www.newlocal.org.uk/publications...